Table support structure



Dec. 17, 1963 LC. HAMMOND TABLE SUPPORT STRUCTURE Fiied April 8, 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 17, 1963 Filed April 8, 1960 L. C. HAMMOND TABLE SUPPORT STRUCTURE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 1:: 6'. rvflMma/vo BY WW Mw W.

Dec. 17, 1963 L. c. HAMMOND TABLE SUPPORT STRUCTURE Filed April 8, 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. 17, 1963 1.. c. HAMMOND 3,

TABLE SUPPORT STRUCTURE Filed April 8, 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

L 56' C HA MMO/VO AT TORNEKS Dec. 17, 1963 L. c. HAMMOND 3,114,223

TABLE SUPPORT STRUCTURE Filed April 8, 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

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ATTORNEYS Dec. 17, 1963 1.. c. HAMMOND 3,114,223

TABLE SUPPORT STRUCTURE Filed April 8, 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. za- 6 flfi/wMo/va i movement of the workpiece is space consuming.

. use justifies.

United States Patent 3,114,223 TABLE sUPPonr s'rnucrunu Lee C. Hammond,Kalamazoo, Mich assignor to Ham- This invention relates to grinding equipment and it relates particularly'to work supporting means for use with a machine having an oscillating type of grinding wheel.

In therprovision of an oscillating or reciprocating grinding wheel for either electrolytic or conventional grinding wherein said wheel oscillates or reciprocates in a plane parallel with the radii of said wheel, it is well reco nized that the workpiece should be placed, usually by means of a supporting table, within such a zone on the wheel that the direction of wheel rotation at the point of contact with the workpiece is at substantially a right angle to its direction of oscillation. This materially improves the grinding carried out by said wheel for reasons that are already well understood. However, with workpieces of different vertical dimensions, there has long been a problem of placing the workpieces on the table properly for causing them to bear against the wheel at the desired In a large number of cases, as

ing of single-point tools, the table is usually positioned in horizontal alignment with about the lower third of the grinding wheel and the'tool is then presented to the wheel at the proper position by any suitable vise or fixture,

. as desired, which is mounted upon the table.

If, however, the nature of the work, or the nature of the fixture required to hold the workpiece, is such that the working face of the workpiece must be spaced upwardly an appreciable distance from the upper surface of the table, then the workpiece is often located so high that the working face thereof engages the wheel in the zone thereof where the direction of movement of the abrasive grains contacting the workpiece is substantially parallel with the direction of oscillation or reciprocation. The need for a relatively tall fixture comes about through such requirements as a swivelling or a rotating or a form generating workholding device which by the nature and Also a power operating or clamping mechanism on fixtures can be space consuming.

While this situation has existed for a long time, the only apparent remedy has in the past appeared to involve 0 substantial rebuilding of the grinding machine, such as to provide a screw and way mechanism for vertical adjustment of either the wheel or the table. i proach requires an expensive mechanism which in many Such an apcases adds more cost to the machine than its frequency of Hence, where a work table has been arranged a-nd located primarily for supporting single-point .tools,v or other relatively small workpieces which, when in grinding position, are spaced at the most only a short distance above said table, it has been entirely impracticable, particularly from an expense or cost standpoint, to

use the table also with workpieces and/or fixtures which necessarily cause the working surface to be placed a substantial distance above the upper surface of the table. This has in some cases seriously limited the use of individual grinding machines.

Accordingly, the objects of the invention are:

(1) To provide a grinding machine which can alternatively as needed (1) accommodate relatively small workpieces, such as single-point tools, which in grinding position are spaced at the most only a short distance above said work table, or (2) which can with only an easily made modification of the work table space same sumciently downwardly with respect to the axis of the grinding wheel that a relatively tall item of work or a relatively tall work-holding fixture can be utilized therewith.

(2) To provide a table, as aforesaid, wherein the table when in either its upward or downward position will operate in substantially the same manner as is already well known and accepted.

(3) To provide a grinding machine, as aforesaid, which in one position of the work table will hold small workpieces, such as single-point tools, conveniently and will enable them to be held in a variety of angular positions with respect to the face of the grinding wheel, and in another position of said work table will give a firm and unyielding base for a fixture provided to hold and/or move a workpiece with respect to the wheel.

(4-) To provide a grinding machine, as aforesaid, in which the movement of said table from the raised position to the lowered position is accomplished quickly and can be done sufiiciently easily by any workman of ordinary skill that a minimum of set-up time will be required.

(5) To provide a grinder, as aforesaid, which will operate in generally the same manner as presently known electrolytic or conventional grinders and hence incur a minimum of sales resistance.

(6) To provide a grinder, as aforesaid, which will enable the work-supporting table to tilt in those instances where a tool or other angular work is held thereon by relatively single-position means, such as simple vises, but wherein such tilting is dispensed with in those instances where the tool is held by more complex and manueverable means, such as by a fixture adapted for form work.

('7) To provide a grinding machine, as aforesaid, in which the table is supported on and spaced from a work feeding, reciprocal carriage by a mounting device having tilting means located therein, said mounting device being removable to enable said table to be fastened directly to said carriage.

(8) To provide a grindingdevice, as aforesaid, having a table mountable at least at two selected distances from the axis of the grinding wheel, the selection of said distances being by easily utilizable means.

(9) To provide a grinding machine, as aforesaid, wherein the table can be located at least at two distances from the axis of the grinding wheel, the means rendering such selection possible being of extremely simple structural nature and not adding appreciably to the cost of the device.

(10) To provide a grinding machine, as aforesaid,

which will be strong and sturdy and can be maintained in accurate operating condition with a minimum of maintenance expense.

(11) To provide a device, as aforesaid, whereinthe adjustment above mentioned can be carried out without any sacrifice in the accuracy of operation of the machine.

Other objects and purposes of the invention will be apparent to persons acquainted with apparatus of this general sort upon reading the following specification and inspecting the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a broken, front view of a duplex-type grinder embodying the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a broken, side view of said grinder taken from the righthand side of the device as viewed in FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 and showing the feeding table in its lower position.

FIGURE 4 is a broken, side view of the apparatus with the tablein the low position illustrated in FIG- URE 3.

FIGURE is a view similar to FIGURE 4 and showing the use of the apparatus of the invention with a relatively small workpiece held by a relatively high fixture.

FIGURE 5a is a broken, front view of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 6 is a modification showing the adaptation of the apparatus to a single, wide table and showing same in a high position.

FIGURE 7 is a view of the modification of FIGURE 6 showing the table in a low position.

General Description In solving the above-outlined problem and meeting the above-designated objectives, I have realized that in the majority of uses of an osci llatingtype grinding wheel, the instances where the tilting function of a ta le is required are usually confined to those instances, such as the grinding of a single-point tool, where the tool is held with respect to the table by a relatively simple vise or clamp. In these instances the table is in its high position and usually at an angle to provide the necessary clearance angle on the tool. In those cases where a relatively tall fixture is used, as above mentioned, or where a tall piece of work is involved, there are usually production items involved and any desired tilt between the workpieces and the wheel may be provided by the fixture. Thus, the tilting function of the usual table is not in these cases required. Accordingly, I have recognized the possibility of confining the tilting mechanism usually located under a table to such means as can be removed in its entirety from such position and thereby render the table mountable directly onto the feeding carriage, or in some instances mountable onto small blocks which are in turn mounted directly onto the carriage. Thus, in those instances where a small item of work, such as a single-point tool, is to be ground, the tilting function will be available and the table will be adjacent the proper zone of the wheel. On the other hand, where more complex workpieces are to be handled and a relatively tall fixture is provided to obtain maneuverability for these workpieces, then the means effecting the tilting function can be removed, the table mounted directly (or through mounting blocks) onto the feeding table to lower it into its lower position and the special fixture then arranged on the table to locate the workpiece as desired. Thus, in those instances where the table is normally required to be tiltable, the tilting function is provided and in those instances where the tilting is unnecessary and more work or fixture space is desirable, then the tilting function is removed and the greater space provided.

Detailed Description While the present invention is usable with grinding machines having single-work-feeding tables, the invention is of most striking utility in connection with grinding machines having duplex work-feeding tables and it ac cordingly will hereinafter be described primarily in such connection. However, it will be clearly recognized that such will be for illustrative purposes only and that it can equally well apply to a single table alone as described under the heading of Modifications.

A duplex work-feeding type of machine is adequately disclosed and described in detail in the application of Phillip J. Robischung, Serial No. 741,257, now Patent No. 2,935,824, assigned to the same assignee as the present application, and accordingly the details thereof need not be repeated herein. However, for convenience in reference, a brief description of the table appropriate to the present invention will be set forth and illustrated.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2, there is provided a base frame structure 1 supporting through guide-ways 2 and 3 a reciprocable platform 4. Said reciprocable platform 4 has an upstanding post 6 thereon.

A pan 7 is aflixed by any convenient means including support structure 8 to the frame 1 of the machine, said pan being provided for the receiving of grinding liquid, either electrolytic liquid or coolant according to the type of grinding being done, and returning the same to the cinculating system in a know manner. An opening 9 is provided in said pan through which the post 6 extends, and an upstanding flange 11 is provided for guarding said opning from liquid within said pan. A cap 12 is affixed to the top of the post 6 and has depending peripheral flanges 13 which telescope, but are spaced from, the flange 11. Thus, the platform 4 and post 6 attached thereto can reciprocate leftwardly and rightwardly (FIGURE 2) with respect to the pan 7 and the depending flanges of the cap 12 will not interfere with the upstanding flanges ll of said pan.

An intermediate table support 14 (FIGURES 1 and 2) is provided on top of the post 6 and in this embodiment the table support 14 is mounted on top of the cap 12 and is removably aifixed to said post in any convenient manner, as by screws, of which some appear at 115, 16 and 17. Said support 14 has a pair of spaced and convexly curved tracks therein, one being indicated at 18, receiving and supporting the table-supporting section 19. The details of this structure are fully set forth in the application of Miles M. Bass et al., Serial No. 625,009, now Patent No. 2,988,857, assigned to the same assignee as the present application and need no further description here.

A similar table-supporting structure 21 is provided on the upper side of the post 6 and spaced from the support 14 as clearly shown in FIGURE 1. Said support 21 is also fastened to the post 6 by a plurality of screws of which two appear at 22 and 23. The support 21 has an ad iustable upper section 24 generally similar to the adjustable section 19.

A work-supporting and feeding table 26 is removably affixed to the upper surfaces of the tiltable sections 19 and 24 in any convenient manner, such as by screws of which one is indicated at 27 (FIGURE 2). Said table is of any convenient form, preferably provided with workholder receiving slots 28 and arranged to pivot about a point 29 located closely adjacent the face of a suitable grinding wheel 31. Such pivoting is effected in a known manner, and as set forth in said Serial No. 625,009, by the knob 20.

There is further provided a second work-feeding table 26a whose various supporting parts are identical with the corresponding parts associated with the table 26 and which are, therefore, indicated by the same numerals used thus far, together with the suflix a.

The grinding wheel 31 (FIGURE 2) is supported in any convenient manner on a spindle 32 which is in turn supported on and by suitable bearings indicated generally at 33 and 34. Means such as the pulley 36' are provided for rotating the shaft 32 from any suitable source, not shown. The bearings 33 and 34 are in this embodiment in a housing 37. This in turn is further supported by arms 38 and 39 on a housing 41 which in turn is supported through suitable bearings for oscillation with respect to the frame structure 1 on a shaft 40 fixed in the mountings 42 and 43. Any convenient means including linkage 44 is provided and actuated by a suitable source, not shown, for effecting oscillation of the housing 37 and parts associated therewith around the axis of the shaft 40, and thereby effecting oscillation of the grinding wheel 31. This and similar mechanisms are set forth and described in detail in the United States patent application entitled Grinder with Oscillating Head, Serial No. 574,728, now Patent No. 2,922,258, assigned to the same assignee as the present application, and hence need no further detailing here.

With the apparatus as described thus far, the feeding table 26 is positioned with respect to the center of the wheel 31 so that work can be correctly supported on and by said table by small, usually single-position, means such as Vises in the manner usually employed with single-point tool tips, and will bring the'point of .thetip to the ground to a zone on the grinding wheel 31 substantially at or slightly below the horizontal line 46 through the center of the wheel. This, regardless of which side of the wheel is being utilized, is satisfactory inasmuch as the abrasive grains of the wheel are at this point moving in a substantially vertical direction.

The table 26' and the post 6 (FIGURE 1) are further provided with suitable openings by which said table 26 may, upon the removal of the intermediate supports 14 and 21 from'the position shown in the drawings, either be fastened directly to the post 6 or, preferably, as shown in FIGURES 3, 4 and 5 be fastened to the post 6 through relatively low blocks 52 and 53. These blocks are rendered desirable largely because of the skirt 54 usually used to obtain lightweight rigid construction for the table. Where the table is provided with a suitable plane surface below the lower edge of such skirt '54, the blocks may be omitted and the tablefastened directly to the post 6. The openings for the screws, as the screw 51, may be the same openings utilized with the intermediate support 14,

if desired, or they may'bein whole or in part different openings as convenient.

In the position of FIGURES 3 and 4, the table 26 is spaced downwardly sufficiently from the wheel 31 that a relatively high workpiece, as workpiece W3 (FIGURE 3), can be affixed thereto by vise V3 and the working face of said workpiece will still contact the grinding wheel 31 at approximately the zone thereof in which the abrasive grains are moving substantiallyvertically. It will be evident upon inspection of FIGURES 2 and 3 that if work of the size and proportions appearing in I IGURE 3 were applied to the work-holding table 26, in the position shown in FIGURE 2, the Work would contact the wheel near the upper edge thereof where the abrasive grains are moving horizontally and thereby moving in the same direction as the direction of oscillation. Thus, the advantage of oscillation is lost in this situation and the work done by the machine is unsatisfactory.

It will be apparent that the table 26 and the table 26a may both be in a position shown in FIGURE 1 and they may both be in the position shown in FIGURE 3, or either may be in either position, all within the scope of the normal use of the apparatus.

Operation In using the machine [above described, it will be assumed first that it is to be used for the grinding of singlepoint tools, or other similar small items of work which can and be held close to the work-feeding table by a relatively small clamp or vise. For this use, the clamp or vise Will occupy approximately the position shown in broken line V in FIGURE 1 and the workpiece therein is indicated at W Said workpiece is thus located in the proper zone of the wheel 31 for effective grinding thereby. Similarly and simultaneously, the work holding device V may be provided for holding a workpiece W on the leftward side (as appearing in FIGURE 1) of the wheel and on the work-feeding table 26a. In such arrangement, the grinding of the workpieces W and W will proceed in a normal manner as set forth in the abovementioned application, Serial No. 741,257.

Assuming now that a relatively tall workpiece W (FIG- URES 3 and 4), which is wide enough to be stable, is to be mounted upon either or both of the tables 26 and 26a, the intermediate supports, which will here be assumed to be the supports =14 and 21 of the table 26, will be removed. Thereafter, the table 26 will be bolted directly to the upper surfiace of the post 6 (with or without the interposition of the blocks 52 and 53), with the cap '12 still interposed between said table 26 and the upper surface of the post 6. The workpiece is held as desired in a suitable vise or clamp V mounted upon the upper surface of the table 26 and its working face will still be located in-the proper name of the wheel 31. -A- similar workpiece and holder, not shown, maybe provided with the table 26a.

Alternatively, where high productionitems are involved, the workpieces, as the workpiece W (FIGURE 5 ),-may themselves be of relatively small nature butthe holders may be relatively tall, such as wherethe work'is-tobe held in a form generating holder V as shown in FIG- URES 5 and 5a, or in an electrolytic-type work holder of thetype shownin application Serial No. 737,358,'now Patent No. 2,919,522. In such cases the workpieces will still be used in connection with the table 26 and the workpiece will still be located in the-proper zone ofthe wheel '31 for effective grinding. A similar workpiece and holder, not shown, may be provided for table'26a.

Further, a. workpiece such as W and the appropriate holder for same'may be used withone table -simultaneously with the-use with the other-table of'another type of workpiece, such as W with the holder appropriate to it.

Modifications The individual work tables 26 and 26a, shown in FIG- URES l to 5, inclusive, can be replaced within the scope of the present invention by a single,'wide table, 55 (FIG- URES 6 and 7), which is supported in FIGURE'6by intermediate table supports 56 and 56a havingthe same general construction as the supports 14 and 21 referred to in connection with FIGURES 1 and 2. The supports 56 and 56:: may be, if desired, somewhat wider to pro vide greater stability and support for the load to be carried on the single table 55. An adjustment knob 57 is provided similar to the adjustment knob 20 for adjusting the angle which said table bears to the plane of the wheel in a known manner and is more particularly set forth in the above-mentioned application of-Miles M. Bass et al, Serial No. 625,009. 'Said intermediate members '56 and 56a are fastened to the posts 6 and 6a in the same manner as above set forth in connection with the intermediate members 14 and 14a and are similarly fastened to the table 55.

FIGURE 7 shows the table 55 in a lowered position where it is fastened to said posts 6 and 6a through relatively low blocks 58 and 59, which, like the low blocks used in connection with the structure shown in FIGURE 3, are preferably used where the table has the depending reinforcing skirt 54, but may be omitted where the skirt is omitted or where the table is provided with a bearing surface below such skirt. Said blocks, if used, may conveniently bear directly against the upper surface of the posts 6 and 6a or against the upper surface of the caps 12 and 12a arranged on and over said posts.

While particular, preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed herein, the invention contemplates such modifications or changes therein as lie within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A grinding machine comprising: a base frame; a rotatable grinding wheel and means supported upon said base frame and connected to said grinding wheel for simultaneously causing said wheel to rotate about its axis and to move back and forth in a direction transverse to said axis; a carriage and guideways supporting said carriage on said base frame in front of said grinding wheel for free movement toward and away from said grinding wheel in a direction substantially parallel with said axis; a work supporting table; a first intermediate table support mountable on said carriage and extending upwardly therefrom and for supporting said table a first distance above said carriage; a second intermediate table support mounta ble on said carriage and extending upwardly therefrom for supporting said table a different distance above said carriage; one of said table supports including means for supporting said table for tilting movement about a horizontal axis and mechanism for effecting such tilting movement; means on the lower surface of said table and located between the forward and rearward ends thereof and alternately securable to the upper end of either of said table supports and means for alternately securing the lower end of either or said table supports to the upper end of said carriage whereby either of said table supports may be interchangeably connected to and between said carriage and said table whereby said table may be positioned in either of two positions with respect to said carriage and thereby present work of variable heights approximately at a horizontal radius of said wheel.

2. A grinding machine according to claim 1 wherein said carriage has an upstanding post thereon, said table support devices each having sidewardly extending mounting flanges engageable with the upper end of said post; said means for interchangeably connecting said table supports to said carriage being threaded members extendable through said mounting flanges into said post.

3. A grinding machine comprising: a base frame; a rotatable grinding wheel and means supported upon said base frame and connected to said grinding Wheel for simultaneously causing said Wheel to rotate about its axis and to move back and forth in a direction transverse to said axis; a pan affixed to said base frame and disposed below said grinding wheel, said pan having an opening therethrough, said opening being elongated in a direction substantially parallel with said axis; a carriage below said pan and means supporting said carriage on said base frame in front or said grinding wheel for movement toward and away from said grinding wheel in a direction substantially parallel with said axis; an upstanding post mounted on said carriage, said post extending upwardly through and being of lesser length than said opening so that it can move lengthwise in said opening; a work supporting table; a first intermediate rigid table support mountable on the upper end of said post and extending upwardly therefrom for supporting said table a first distance above said post; a second intermediate table support mountable on the upper end of said post and extending upwardly therefrom for supporting said table at a second distance above said post greater than said first distance; said second table support being comprised of an upper section and a lower section; said upper section having an arcwate, convex lower side comprising a tracking element and said lower section having an arcuate, concave upper side comprising a track complementary to and capable of receiving said tracking element in said upper section for continuous movement of said upper section and said rtable about an essentially horizontal axis transverse to the rotational axis of said grinding wheel; means on the lower surface of said table and located between the forward and rearward ends of said table and securable alternately to the upper end of either of said table supports and means for alternately securing the lower end of either of said table supports to the upper end of said post whereby either of said table supports may be interchangeably connected to and between said post and said table whereby said table may be positioned in either of two vertical positions with respect to said post and thereby present work of variable heights approximately at a horizontal radius of said wheel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,404,605 Hansen Jan. 24, 1922 1,566,744 Gray Dec. 22, 1925 2,107,566 Gardner Feb. 8, 1938 2,502,922 Bura Apr. 4, 1950 2,521,230 Larson Sept. 5, 1950 2,544,604 Mader Mar. 6, 1951 2,574,499 Ruscitti et a1 Nov. 13, 1951 2,922,258 Bass Jan. 26, 1960 2,958,164 Beyer Nov. 1, 1960 

1. A GRINDING MACHINE COMPRISING: A BASE FRAME; A ROTATABLE GRINDING WHEEL AND MEANS SUPPORTED UPON SAID BASE FRAME AND CONNECTED TO SAID GRINDING WHEEL FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY CAUSING SAID WHEEL TO ROTATE ABOUT ITS AXIS AND TO MOVE BACK AND FORTH IN A DIRECTION TRANSVERSE TO SAID AXIS; A CARRIAGE AND GUIDEWAYS SUPPORTING SAID CARRIAGE ON SAID BASE FRAME IN FRONT OF SAID GRINDING WHEEL FOR FREE MOVEMENT TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID GRINDING WHEEL IN A DIRECTION SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL WITH SAID AXIS; A WORK SUPPORTING TABLE; A FIRST INTERMEDIATE TABLE SUPPORT MOUNTABLE ON SAID CARRIAGE AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY THEREFROM AND FOR SUPPORTING SAID TABLE A FIRST DISTANCE ABOVE SAID CARRIAGE; A SECOND INTERMEDIATE TABLE SUPPORT MOUNTABLE ON SAID CARRIAGE AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY THEREFROM FOR SUPPORTING SAID TABLE A DIFFERENT DISTANCE ABOVE SAID 